(Web Desk Monitoring) — The federal government has granted the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country’s premier spy agency, the authority to intercept and trace calls and messages in efforts to prevent offences against national security, reported by private TV channel Geo News.
The federal cabinet has approved a circular permitting a designated ISI officer to trace calls under Section 54 of the Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996. According to the sources, the officer appointed by the ISI must be of at least grade 18.
This section of the Telecommunications Act authorises the federal government to empower any individual or group to intercept or trace calls via any telecommunication system for national security purposes. The Act also prioritises the government’s use of the telecommunication system over any licensee for the country’s defence or security against foreign threats.
“The federal government, in the interest of national security and to prevent any offence, authorises officers […] nominated by ISI to intercept calls and messages or trace calls through any communication system,” stated the notification issued by the Ministry of Information on Monday.
This measure aligns with the Shehbaz Sharif-led government’s ongoing efforts to implement stricter social media regulations due to national security concerns, including the current ban on the popular social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
In May, Prime Minister Shehbaz approved amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which included the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority. Additionally, the government is installing a national firewall across different internet service providers (ISPs) to control social media content with filters designed to block unwanted material, as reported by The News on June 7.
The national firewall will identify the origins of propaganda material and subsequently block or reduce the visibility of such accounts. An official familiar with the project explained that the main focus would be on locating the sources of propaganda to stop it at the root. A keyword filtering system will detect content deemed undesirable or harmful to national security, making such posts invisible to external users.
This filtering system will inspect posts on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X. Preparations are also underway to prevent the misuse of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), with the government potentially requiring citizens to inform the PTA of the VPNs they use. Non-compliance could lead to penalties.
When contacted for comments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja did not respond. However, ministry spokesperson Jameel Ahmed stated that the firewall’s implementation was within the PTA’s jurisdiction. Conversely, the PTA spokesperson indicated that it was a “ministry project” and directed questions about the firewall to the ministry.
Earlier this month, the PTA proposed a new regulatory framework requiring all Over-The-Top (OTT) services, including YouTube, Netflix, WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, to register locally for 15 years. According to a 14-page draft available on its website, the PTA recommends that OTT Communication Services operating in Pakistan obtain a 15-year license from the regulatory body. Services without PTA authorisation would be deemed illegal after a 12-month compliance period.
